"While arcane studies have languished for centuries,the dessert industry has flourished. Just look at this flawless balance between crispness and moisture. Achieving such contrast is as difficult as blending opposing elements. It's a masterful feat," Lise said cheerfully. "And this curious texture that appears now and then... Ah, peanuts. A subtle nutty flavor woven into the sweetness. The pastry chef who made this cookie must be someone of rare brilliance and artistry."
She polished off the rest of the cookies in a flash, then turned to me with a contented smile. Wilting under her expectant gaze, I muttered, "I'll bring more next time."
"You are a mage's truest friend. A companion for life," she declared.
I couldn't bring myself to mention that it was a leftover bag, so I changed the subject. "Can I ask you another question?"
"Before that, explain what's going on. Be specific. Where exactly did you see this demon script and those magic circles?" she asked.
"At Cartel Academy."
Lise tilted her head. "Cartel Academy? It must be an educational institution in the capital."
"That's right. So what happened was..." I gave her the most concise summary I could of everything going on at Cartel Academy.
When I finished, Lise looked intrigued. "It's obvious the empire's influence has withered over the years. A demon king descended in the heart of the capital. Though, to be fair, this isn't a full descent. It's only possible because it's Hadenaihar, the ruler of the Otherworld. Turning an entire academy into a demon's den? Now that sounds like fun. Ahaha. What a delightful turn of events."
Judging by her reaction, I doubted I could expect much help from the main family through her.
"By the way," I said, "I used that magic tool you gave me to reach you. I'm worried the dean's puppet might notice."
Lise chuckled at my words. "A puppet can never be a perfect imitation. The higher the original's quality, the harder it is to reproduce. Some memories will always be missing. An Archmage's puppet likely lacks half of the original's true power."
"It makes sense." I had assumed it was some kind of all-purpose copy, but clearly it had more weaknesses than I realized. Of course it did. No puppet that sophisticated could come without limitations.
"Still, even a skilled Archmage wouldn't see through a magic tool I crafted," she boasted. "You don't need to worry too much."
That was somewhat reassuring. If only her personality were a little easier to handle, she would've made the perfect ally. Well, no one could be good at everything.
"In any case," she went on, "this is turning into quite the entertaining situation. So, your goal is to enter the Otherworld directly and defeat the demon king."
"For now, yes."
"Very well. I suppose I can share a few things." Lise let out a low chuckle. "The magic circle you showed me symbolizes the formation and stability of the Otherworld. It also governs the enforcement of its laws. Once you step into Hadenaihar's territory, you'll be bound to its rules."
"What happens if I break them?"
"You'll be trapped there forever. Your body will belong to the world of the blood moon, and your soul will suffer eternal torment in the demon king's hands. Not even death will set you free," she answered.
The moment I heard that voice, Alec came to mind—the same voice that had once prayed for the death of the expedition team sent to Spirit Mountain.
Not even death will set you fre e, I repeated Lise's words inwardly.
The image of the Green-Tongued Demon King, Tantata, tossing Juan's skull like a ball flashed before me. Despite my resentment toward Juan, I felt more pity than satisfaction.
Then a thought struck me. Perhaps it was a blessing that Juan died back then.
Lise glanced at the note and continued, "What's written in the demonic language are the rules of the Otherworld. I'll tell you once, so memorize them."
Did eating sweets improve her mood?
She explained in a soft hum, "First, if the puppet catches you, it's over. Second, don't leave the restricted area. Third, the only way to win is to find the person in charge of the ritual and defeat the demon king. Hmm, the rules are simpler than I expected."
I considered her words and asked, "If beating the person in charge of the ritual is what matters, then why bother entering the Otherworld at all?"
"There's no point in killing the organizer outside. The demon king's power won't grow, but the demon king won't disappear either. In fact, he might go berserk for reasons no one understands," Lise replied.
It matched what Evan had said. At least, it meant he hadn't lied about defeating the demon king. For now, I don't have to worry about him betraying me at the academy, though I still can't fully trust him.
Then Lise said, "I'll give you a piece of advice."
"What is it?"
"Run away." She laughed softly. "Everyone who learns the rules clings to hope at first. Maybe I can win. Maybe I can survive. It's like brainwashing. They don't realize that it's all just a game for the demon king's amusement. The deeper you get, the more obvious it becomes. From the start, Hadenaihar's game is rigged so no one can win."
She reached out to me. "Of course, even if it's just a puppet, it's still an Archmage's clone. You can't fool it or escape easily. But that won't be hard for me, Lise Ladygoth."
Her words reminded me of something similar—back at the first training camp, when I'd met Assad. I laughed under my breath. This felt a little like that moment. The difference was that now the threat wasn't the Black Swamp Demon King, but the Blood Moon Demon King. And the advice came from Lise instead of Assad.
Still, I couldn't say no outright like I had back then. Once I left the academy, I could seek help from outside. What if I call the Iron-Blooded Lord, for example?
Of course, he was the busiest man on the continent, but this was a demon king we were facing. He would likely respond immediately.
I asked, "How can I escape?"
"It's not difficult. Stay here for six days until the demon king truly descends."
Her unexpected answer left me numb. "What does that...?"
"The moment the demon king descends, everyone trapped in the Otherworld will be offered as sacrifices. At least half the people in the academy will be taken. Those lucky enough to survive will be implanted with the Seed of Evil," she answered.
"What is the Seed of Evil?"
"It's the instinct of darkness. It can sprout at any time. Once it blooms, a person will strangle the ones they love, destroy what they once cherished, and feel endless hatred for their own parents or children," Lise elaborated. "If you stay here, you'll be free from that influence. Once it's over, you can leave the academy and leave the cleanup to the Imperial Knights, the Archmages, or Delac. If it involves a demon king, Delac will cross the entire continent to get here."
Her words echoed my own thoughts, but I didn't say anything. Lise regarded me with puzzlement.
"More than two hundred people at the academy have already been replaced by puppets," I said.
"You mentioned that."
"I assumed that meant they'd already been sacrificed. But from what you're saying, that's not the case."
Lise let out a soft laugh. "Those who've been replaced are still trapped in the Otherworld. They must be clinging to fleeting hope, trembling in fear, longing for a sunrise that will never come beneath the blood moon."
"Then they can still be saved, can't they?"
"Do you want to save them?"
"If I can, I should."
Lise snorted. ""And how do you plan to do that? By stepping into a demon king's game with no chance of winning? Are you some kind of fool eager to walk into hell? Those people are as good as dead. Throwing yourself into the sea for someone already swallowed by the storm isn't kindness. It's a matter of intelligence. That's not a rescue—it's suicide."
Her gaze settled on me. For once, her bewitching purple eyes held none of their usual wickedness. Instead, they shimmered with something quieter, a curious glint that resembled starlight.
"Luan Badniker, before I scold you, I want to ask one thing." She looked at me as if facing something unfamiliar, something she had never encountered before. "Are you a good person?"
***
I left the underground library and Lise behind without refusing her suggestion. As we had been talking, a strange restlessness had settled in my mind. Whenever that happened, I needed to sort out my thoughts alone. A quiet place would help me face my inner self.
Fortunately, the warehouse was calm and silent. Moonlight filtered through the windows, casting a tranquil glow. I sat on a box and started to reflect.
Cartel Academy... To me, it was never a place of learning. It felt like a fog-shrouded labyrinth of intrigue. From the moment I stepped inside, discomfort clung to me—Seren Goodspring, the two imperial family members, Alec, Spirit Mountain, the ghost story, the demon king, the Young Dark Pope Evan, the vast conspiracy I uncovered along the way, and the puppet who had replaced Alderson.
I had been under the impression I had been watching from a distance, but before I realized it, the current had swept me away. I drifted aimlessly through days where confusion outweighed helplessness.
At last, the fog lifted. I couldn't stop myself from laughing when the monster finally revealed its true form. There was a saying that ignorance was bliss, and in my case, it couldn't have been more accurate. I would have preferred not to know. I didn't want the knowledge that 200 innocent students were still alive, still trapped and suffering in the Otherworld.
It is a vile thought. I burst out laughing.
" Are you a good person?" The answer was no.
Lise didn't understand me at all. There were genuinely kind people in the world. For example, Seren who had joined the Badnikers' training camp to rescue hero disciples she barely knew.
I was different from Seren. I could never be like her. Still, that did not make me a bad person.
I am a relatively conscientious person. That was how I judged myself.
I drew the Seven Sins Sword. Its rough, black blade absorbed the moonlight instead of reflecting it. For a moment, I felt my gaze lock with the eyes of the Martial God I had never seen before.
"I'm sure you heard everything," I said.
—That's right.
"Am I making a reckless choice?"
—It's hard to argue otherwise. No matter how many lives you have, it won't be enough. No one would blame you for running. At your age, looking ahead is the sensible choice. But that's not what you want, is it?
The Martial God's words made me laugh.
—Don't do anything you don't want to do.
It wasn't comforting or encouraging, but I liked his honesty. "Will you join me?"
The Martial God laughed.
—A world where the moon never sets. In other words, a world where the sun never rises. How terrified those poor, fragile children must be. How many nights have they spent in fear?
—Perhaps they've stopped hoping for dawn. Perhaps they've forgotten what sunlight feels like. But the darker the world becomes, the more it needs a sunrise. Someone has to prove that the sun still rises. I will join you, Messenger.
I stood up at his words.
—If you walk down the path of hell, I will accompany you.
I was about to leave the warehouse when a faint streak of light spilled through the window. Just before stepping out, I blinked to adjust to the unusually dazzling first light of the day. The sun had risen.